Here is something positive about ocean conservation…so there are scientist out there that are teaching local Thailand fisherman about ocean conservation and teaching them not to kill significant species to their area.
Feb. 25, 2009 (this link works)
The Thailand capture of the massive female stingray was part of a program to tag such Maeklong River residents. The captive, part of a “vulnerable species” listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, measured a hefty 7 feet by 7 feet. That doesn’t include the 10-foot-long poisonous tail.
Such creatures are dangerous, of course: Famed Australian TV personality Steve “Crocodile Hunter” Irwin died from a stingray barb at the Great Barrier Reef in 2006.
The numbers currently put one Ian Welch on the world record books. (Pictures of Welch posing with his female companion can be found here.) The stingray’s resistance nearly dunked Welch into the river, and he was literally saved by the seat of his pants when a crewmate grabbed his trousers.
Another reason that this marine fish is so huge: She’s pregnant. (Cue soap-opera gasp.) After she had been towed to the bank (too big to be onboard the boat), she was duly marked, had DNA samples removed, and returned to the river whence she unwillingly came. Welch gave her a farewell smooch, then spent the rest of the day with a cold beer and memories of her.
By the way, one number isn’t known: the exact stingray population count, which has shrunk 20 percent in the past decade. With this lady’s help, at least one more will be added to this number…and with a tale to tell.
So if you are trying to click on the links, I just copied and pasted the article…sorry. Thanks for reading.
Today on the Pro Diver II, I went on a dive to Hog’s Heaven a wreck about 70 feet at the bottom and to a shallow reef called Ft. Lauderdale Caves. My cousin Lauren came along and was completing some of her Advance Open Water dives for her certification. My buddy Aram came along too and shot some video for me. The conditions at Hog’s Heaven was great no current and good vis, but at the Caves the vis was so-so. On the surface the conditions were bumpy, so if you are someone who gets sea sick…today would not have been fun for you. 
I was luck enough to get the opportunity to go through Florida’s Reef Check training through Pro Dive last week. I was joined by Marissa, Mike, and William and together we learned how we can monitor Florida’s reefs. We received training both in the classroom and out in the field. In the classroom we learned what types of indicator species to record and what types of coral disease affect our reefs out here. Next we took this knowledge out in the field and set up line transects to record data. After the dives, we collected all of our findings and sent it to the Reef Check Headquaters to be analyzed by Reef Check scientist. If you too want to become apart of the Reef Check team in your area check out their schedule for the next training dates!!!!
About Reef Check for the curious minds…Founded in 1996 by marine ecologist Dr. Gregor Hodgson, the Reef Check Foundation is an international non-profit organization dedicated to conservation of two ecosystems: tropical coral reefs and California rocky reefs. With headquarters in Los Angeles and volunteer teams in more than 80 countries, Reef Check works to create partnerships among community volunteers, government agencies, businesses, universities and other non-profits. Reef Check goals are to: educate the public about the value of reef ecosystems and the current crisis affecting marine life; to create a global network of volunteer teams trained in Reef Check’s scientific methods who regularly monitor and report on reef health; to facilitate collaboration that produces ecologically sound and economically sustainable solutions; and to stimulate local community action to protect remaining pristine reefs and rehabilitate damaged reefs worldwide.
In 1997, Reef Check conducted the first-ever global survey of coral reef health that provided scientific confirmation that our coral reefs were in crisis due to over-fishing, illegal fishing, and pollution. The results, published in a scientific journal in 1999, shocked many marine biologists who had not realized the extent of human impacts on reefs. In August 2002, Reef Check released its first five-year report, The Global Coral Reef Crisis – Trends and Solutions, at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, South Africa. Based on data collected by thousands of Reef Check volunteer divers in over 80 countries and territories, the report was the first scientific documentation of the dramatic worldwide decline in coral reef health over a five year period. The report concluded that there was virtually no reef in the world that remained untouched by human impacts, such as over fishing, pollution and climate change. Yet the success stories discussed in the report show that, with proper monitoring, management and protection, coral reefs can recover. It is up to us.
Since then, Reef Check’s fast-growing network has expanded throughout all tropical seas, and has played a major role in efforts to preserve and sustain reef ecosystems. Reef Check’s approach is to engage partners, especially businesses in a non-confrontational manner to develop mutually beneficial solutions especially the creation of self-funding Marine Protected Areas. In 2005, Reef Check launched its first temperate reef program in California.
Reef Check has received international environmental awards for its work, and is the United Nations’ official community-based reef monitoring program.
